Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, celebrated on the first of the month of Tishrei. It is important to Jews as a time to pause and reflect on the past year, and look forward to the New Year. Rosh Hashanah is a time of introspection, when individuals can practice self-reflection, change, and renewal.
According to Rabbi Jeffrey Falick, the Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth El in Birmingham, Alabama, the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, provide a great opportunity to start the Jewish New Year on a spiritual level. “Rosh Hashanah gives us an opportunity to take a deep breath and hit the reset button . . . to contemplate the past year and your relationship with God and the people in your life,” Falick says.
On Rosh Hashanah, Jews mark the new cycle in the Hebrew Calendar and reflect on the balance between God, themselves and the people around them. The traditional greeting for Rosh Hashanah, “L’Shanah Tovah,” meaning “for a good year,” reflects the Jewish belief that humans must take responsibility for their actions and are accountable for the ways in which they live their life.
Rosh Hashanah also offers a chance to review your relationships with those closest to you. According to Falick, it is during the thirty-day period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur that one can best demonstrate a commitment to truly make amends for past wrongs and feelings, and strengthen relationships. “Spending quality time with loved ones over this holiday period can be one way of making sincere attempts to repair these bonds”, suggests Falick.
Rosh Hashanah also serves as a reminder of the Creator, whose compassion and love, never cease and are available in every situation. On this day, people can take comfort in knowing that all of their sins are forgiven each year and that no matter what happened the previous year, they can start the New Year fresh, with hope and a clean slate.
Rosh Hashanah carries a profound spiritual importance in Judaism. This New Year brings a special opportunity to renew and restore spiritual connections, and to focus on creating a better, purer relationship with God. It is an occasion to commit to spiritual growth and to have faith that the Creator will be merciful and bring about positive changes for ourselves and the world. Rabbi Jack Abramowitz of the Orthodox Union explains that this is a time to “rededicate ourselves to Torah and our faith in God, and to repent for misdeeds of the past year.”
The Significance of Apples and Honey
On Rosh Hashanah, apples and honey are traditionally shared with family and friends as symbols of a sweet New Year. Dipped in honey, the apple recalls God’s covenant with the Jewish People. Apples also represent the bounty of God’s eternal grace. As well as honey, eating other sweet foods is customary as a way of expressing the hope for a year of sweetness.
Furthermore, shofar or a ram’s horn is blown on Rosh Hashanah. This symbolic act is intended to awaken people’s hearts and minds so that they can access their personal store of spiritual strength. The sound of shofar also serves to remind people that this is a time to stand together as one, to ask for forgiveness and to be mindful of their responsibilities as Jews.
Rosh Hashanah and Prayer
During Rosh Hashanah and the days leading up to it, Jews pray in the synagogue with additional prayers for the New Year. According to the Bible, prayers for Rosh Hashanah are mainly of thanksgiving and praise to God, requesting pardoning and forgiveness for past sins. Prayers also include the traditional plea for a year of blessing and a good life.
Rosh Hashanah is a special and significant time for Jewish people. It is important to reflect on the mistakes and learn lessons from them, to forgive and ask for forgiveness, and to hope that the coming year will be blessed with health, happiness and peace.
Rosh Hashanah in the Home
In addition to the synagogue service, many Jews around the world also take part in home or private services. Special readings, prayers and rituals are performed in an intimate setting. Some also include a festive meal, heaps of blessings and tributes to the departed.
At the end of the Rosh Hashanah service, families and friends are encouraged to embrace each other to begin the New Year in good faith with mutual respect, forgiveness and good intentions. A common proverb for this occasion is “Eins vu zehn gebrent, tien lernt” -– “One who makes ten mistakes gets lots of learning.” The idea here is to be forgiving of others, as well as themselves, and learn from mistakes.
Tzedakah and the Significance of Rosh Hashanah
Tzedakah is a form of religious charitable giving done during Rosh Hashanah. Jews make extra donations to charity in order to help those in need. According to Maureen Williams, an ordained Rabbi and President of the Jewish Society in Swansea University, donating to charity shows that people recognize the suffering of others and draw strength from knowing that they are able to help alleviate the suffering. This creates a humbling effect and helps connect people with a tradition of making the world a better place.
Through the observance of Rosh Hashanah, Jews gain a unique opportunity to work on their relationship with God and the world. It is a time to repair broken relationships, find forgiveness and gratitude, and to start the New Year with a sense of inner peace, strength, and spiritual clarity.
Practices of Reflection
Throughout the days of Rosh Hashanah, Jews take part in traditions and activities that help bring focus and clarity. They reflect on the past, practice candor and empathy, and recognize the comforting hand of God amidst all the chaos of life. This is central to the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, and is an ongoing theme in many of the customs and prayers that are performed throughout the holiday.
The symbolic fruits and sweets eaten on Rosh Hashanah also serve as reminders of reflection. Those who enjoy apples and honey recall the themes of sweetness and joy, as well as the opportunity to start anew without judgement or preconceptions. In addition, the shofar serves to remind Jews of the importance of taking stock of the past year, and making positive changes for the year ahead.
Choosing One’s Actions Wisely
Rosh Hashanah, like all Jewish holidays, provides an opportunity to assess and recognize your current situation, as well as make improvements. It is believed that one’s actions on Rosh Hashanah have a powerful influence over the coming year. Consequently, it is important to evaluate your patterns of behavior and decide which habits should be left behind and which should be taken with you into the New Year.
By making mindful decisions and striving to live with greater awareness, it is possible to take control of your actions and become a better version of yourself. Through committing to the process of self-reflection, Jews can hope and pray for great things in the days to come.
Carrying the Lessons of Rosh Hashanah
Though the Days of Awe may come to an end, the lessons of Rosh Hashanah and its values remain with us for the entire year. It is important to remember to stay grounded in the presence of God, and to strive for justice, peace and love in one’s dealings with others.
Rosh Hashanah is a valuable time for Jewish people all over the world, providing them the opportunity to take account of the past year and look ahead towards the New Year with hope and faith. May this New Year bring us much happiness, health and joy. L’Shanah Tovah.
